MEPs secured new EU measures for the more effective prevention and prosecution of corruption, including reinforced cooperation and greater transparency. On Tuesday evening, Parliament and Council negotiators reached a provisional agreement on the EU’s first ever directive harmonising criminal laws to fight corruption, strengthening efforts to prevent, prosecute and punish offences across the EU. A […]
Package travels: new rules on traveller protection
Parliament has struck a deal with Council on updating protection rules for package holidaymakers, based on lessons learned from the pandemic and high-profile bankruptcies. The draft law informally agreed by Parliament and Council negotiators clarifies the definition of a travel package, conditions for cancelling a trip, and travellers’ rights to information, help and refund in […]
Disability strategy: EP calls for greater efforts in employment, housing and healthcare
The EP wants ambitious measures to ensure access for people with disabilities to the labour market, social protection, education, healthcare, housing and digital services. In a resolution adopted on Thursday by 490 votes to 9, with 109 abstentions, MEPs call for an effective strategy for 2025-2030 that includes concrete measures and legal instruments to address […]
Parliament proposes limiting access to social networking sites to under-16s
MEPs call on the EU to take ambitious measures to protect minors on the internet, including a minimum age of 16 and a ban on the most harmful addictive practices. On Wednesday, MEPs adopted a report by 483 votes in favour, 92 against and 86 abstentions, expressing deep concern about the physical and mental health […]
Toy safety: new standards to protect children’s health
The new rules aim to reduce the number of unsafe toys sold in the EU and protect children from the associated risks. Despite having one of the strictest toy safety regulations in the world, dangerous toys still find their way into the hands of children in the EU. On Tuesday, MEPs confirmed an agreement with […]
Parliament gives green light to first European Defence Industry Programme
The rule approved on Tuesday 25 seeks to strengthen the EU’s defence industry, encourage joint procurement of European products, boost local manufacturing and increase support for Ukraine. The Regulation, already informally agreed with the Council, will establish the first ever European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP). It aims to strengthen Europe’s defence technological and industrial base […]
EU Talent Pool: deal on facilitating international recruitment in shortage occupations
A political agreement has been reached today to set up the EU Talent Pool, a digital platform to make it easier to recruit third-country nationals for work in the EU. On November 18th, negotiators from the Civil Liberties Committee reached an agreement with the Council on the creation of an EU Talent Pool platform. This […]
2026 EU budget deal: EP boosts research, competitiveness and security
MEPs achieved increases for the 2026 EU budget and secured funds for Horizon Europe, transport and energy networks, civil protection and agriculture. On Saturday morning, negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the 2026 EU Budget, before the deadline of the conciliation period. Negotiators agreed to set the overall […]
MEPs warn of growing repression of activists abroad
On Thursday, the plenary urged the EU to respond to coercion and manoeuvres by authoritarian regimes to silence opponents and dissidents abroad. Human rights defenders are a fundamental pillar of democracy and the rule of law and are not sufficiently protected, say MEPs in an own-initiative report adopted by 512 votes in favour, 76 against […]